Displaying items by tag: Russell Rafter

31st October 2011

Howth RNLI Names New Treasurer at AGM

David Sargent was named as the new treasurer of Howth RNLI at the lifeboat branch's AGM and awards event recently, The Irish Times reports.

http://www.afloat.ie/resources/irish-ports/howth-harbour

http://afloat.ie/resources/organisations/rnli-ireland/

http://www.afloat.ie/safety/lifeboats/

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1031/1224306801849.html

Sargent succeeds Capt Peter McKenna, who served as treasurer for the last 16 years and was awarded for his service by Howth RNLI chairman Russell Rafter.

http://www.afloat.ie/sail/sailing-clubs/howth-yacht-club

http://www.afloat.ie/watersport/angling/

Rafter awarded the organisations highest award for volunteers, the Gold Medal of the Institution, to the late former chairman Alastair McMillan, who was a committee member for 44 years.

Meanwhile, the Long Service Badge for 20 years’ service was presented to crew member Ian Massey.

David Sargent was named as the new treasurer of Howth RNLI at the lifeboat branch's AGM and awards event recently, The Irish Times reports.

Sargent succeeds Capt Peter McKenna, who served as treasurer for the last 16 years and was awarded for his service by Howth RNLI chairman Russell Rafter.

The meeting at Howth Yacht Club saw Rafter recognise the efforts of the lifeboat's crew and fundraising volunteers - such as the Howth Sea Angling Club, who raised more than €2,000 from collection boxes last year.

Rafter awarded the organisations highest award for volunteers, the Gold Medal of the Institution, to the late former chairman Alastair McMillan, who was a committee member for 44 years.

Meanwhile, the Long Service Badge for 20 years’ service was presented to crew member Ian Massey.

Published in RNLI Lifeboats

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Angling Event Raises Funds for Howth Lifeboat

A boat angling event in Dublin last week raised €1,000 for the RNLI Howth Lifeboat, The Irish Times reports.

http://afloat.ie/watersport/angling/

http://www.afloat.ie/resources/organisations/rnli-ireland/

http://afloat.ie/safety/lifeboats/

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0801/1224301679637.html

The third annual Paul Lynam Memorial Cup catch-and-release contest, hosted by the Howth Angling Centre, saw 35 anglers from north Dublin compete in perfect calm conditions, with ray, pollack and dogfish among the haul.

Overall winner on the day was Anthony McLaughlin from Rush, who scored 170 points to lift the cup and prize money of €300 in his first big competition victory.

But the bigger winner from the event was Howth lifeboat, which was among the top five busiest in 2010.

Howth RNLI chairman Russell Rafter said: “Our collection boxes from the [Howth Angling Centre] are the highest contributor to the station.”

A boat angling event in Dublin last week raised €1,000 for the RNLI Howth Lifeboat, The Irish Times reports.

The third annual Paul Lynam Memorial Cup catch-and-release contest, hosted by the Howth Angling Centre, saw 35 anglers from north Dublin compete in perfect calm conditions, with ray, pollack and dogfish among the haul.

Overall winner on the day was Anthony McLaughlin from Rush, who scored 170 points to lift the cup and prize money of €300 in his first big competition victory.

But the bigger winner from the event was Howth lifeboat, which was among the top five busiest in 2010.

Howth RNLI chairman Russell Rafter said: “Our collection boxes from the [Howth Angling Centre] are the highest contributor to the station.”

Published in Angling

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Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of. For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water. The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.